by Adeola Balogun

The Ekiti governorship elections have begun and all eyes are watching the proceedings because for many, this will be a foretaste of what lies in store for the country in 2015.

The pre-election fever has already seen claims that security officials are being used to arrest and harass members of the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) even as the APC chairman, John Oyegun has expressed fears that the election might not be free and fair.

Here are 10 things you should know about the Ekiti elections:

1, The polls are being contested by 18 candidates from various political parties.

2, The most prominent candidates are the incumbent Governor, Kayode Fayemi on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Governor Ayo Fayose, for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Opeyemi Bamidele for the Labour Party (LP).

3, The election is being viewed as a battle for supremacy between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposing, All Progressives Congress (PDP).

4, Reports have it that 12,340 regular policemen, 3170 MOPOL, 4,280 soldiers, 1800 SSS and 1500 NSCDC agents have been deployed to Ekiti for the elections.

5, Voters are said to have turned out en masse with even the elderly & people on crutches coming out to cast their votes.

6, Soldiers are said to be standing by and there are claims that people found without voters’ cards are being whipped. A YNaija.com reporter was earlier today assaulted by a military personnel in the course of doing his job.

7, 29 domestic and international observers have been accredited by INEC to observe the election.

8, The international observers include the UNDP/DGD, EU Delegation, British High Commission, United States Mission to Nigeria, Canadian High commission, Embassies of Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and France

9, About 732,106 voters are expected to vote in the election with females amounting to 371, 419 (51%) and males 360, 747 (49%).

10, Since the country’s return to democracy in 1999, no governor of the state has been elected for a second term.